Chapter Five Chocolates and Confessions
Another knock—two this time. Lighter. Familiar.
"Claire?" came Zoe's voice through the door. "You decent, or am I about to see something that'll ruin our friendship forever?"
Her usual dry tone was there—but today, there was something beneath it. Something careful. Gentle.
Claire, still staring out the window, took another sip of her coffee—very good coffee, honestly—and tried not to think about what Eli had said half an hour ago.
I know it's hard for you to be here.
How was he so sure?
"Come in," she called, absently.
The door creaked open. Zoe stepped in with a sigh, already kicking off her heels like they'd personally offended her.
"If Mandy makes us wear those shoes for more than five minutes, I swear I'm suing someone. Probably Leo".
She tossed her clutch onto a chair and flopped dramatically onto the edge of the bed, eyes sweeping the room before settling on Claire, who stood frozen by the window.
Zoe's gaze softened. Her voice followed suit.
"You okay? You look like you're three minutes from either writing a heartbreaking novel or committing a very organized felony."
Claire didn't answer right away.
Zoe tilted her head. "He talked to you, didn't he?"
Claire turned slowly, eyes narrowing. "You know something?"
Zoe raised her hands like a suspect in a heist. "Know something? No. Suspect everything? Always."
She leaned forward, elbows on her knees, voice dropping into something quieter—closer to the bone.
"Claire, I've known you both since Eli was DJing in moldy basements for free beer and you were editing short stories on that stolen library laptop. I know when something's off."
Claire sighed and finally peeled herself away from the window, facing her.
"He said he knows it's hard for me to be here."
Zoe blinked once. Slowly tilted her head again. Classic Zoe—surgical in her intuition.
Claire squinted at her. "Did you tell him?"
Zoe gasped in mock offense, pressing a hand to her chest like Claire had accused her of treason.
"Me?! I would never—okay, maybe I would—but not this time."
She wandered over to the desk, picking up one of the hotel's complimentary chocolates like it held the secrets of the universe.
"He's not stupid, Claire. He knows you. Probably better than anyone. If he said that... he probably feels it too."
Her voice softened, threading between the sarcasm and sincerity.
"Did you tell him about the flight?"
Claire froze.
Her hand trembled slightly as she set the coffee down too hard on the windowsill, the clink louder than it should've been.
"How the hell do you know about that?"
Zoe didn't even flinch. She popped the chocolate into her mouth and raised an eyebrow like this was a Tuesday.
"I'm literally your emergency contact, Claire. You think the airline didn't call me when you forgot to confirm your check-in yesterday?"
Claire swallowed. Zoe pointed at her like she was presenting a final argument in court.
"Also? I have eyes. And ears. And intuition sharper than your eyeliner. The extra suitcase. The sudden silence. The classic Claire Bennet urge to disappear when things get real?"
She stepped closer now, the humor softening into something more honest.
"You're leaving. Tonight. And you haven't told him."
Claire exhaled slowly, the truth catching in her throat.
"I will. I was planning on telling him," she said quietly. "After the ceremony."
Zoe leaned against the desk, watching her for a long moment. Her voice was gentle when it came.
"You know I love you, right?" she said. "Like... hide-the-body, alibi-on-speed-dial kind of love."
Despite herself, Claire smiled.
"But Claire... if you leave the country without telling him how you really feel, you're not just running away from him."
Her voice dropped to almost a whisper.
"You're running away from yourself."
The words hung in the air, heavy and still.
And then—
"What if this is your last chance?"
Claire didn't answer.
She didn't need to.
The silence said enough.